Synthetic Drug Screens

Spice (K2)

What is Salvia?

What is Ivory Wave?

What is “Spice”?

The terms Spice, K2, Fake Pot, Mr. Nice Guy Incense, etc. refer to commercially available products that have been sprayed with research chemicals called synthetic cannabinoids but do not contain any cannabis (marijuana) components. The cannabinoid-like chemicals were developed in research laboratories to study neuronal receptors found in the body and brain. These products are generally sold as incense, but are intended to be smoked for their psychoactive effects. Very little (if anything is known about the health and safety of these research compounds. The compounds themselves are considered contraband in many European countries and their possession and use are also prohibited by an increasing number of local governments within the United States. Most synthetic cannabinoids (and the products that contain them) however, are not currently classified as controlled substances by the U.S. federal government (as of Sept 2010). The DEA has identified these compounds as ‘Drugs and Chemicals of Concern’.

C-DAT offers a new test capable of identifying the recent use of JWH-018 and JWH-073 (additives evident in Spice or K2). The procedure utilizes advanced, state of the art forensic technology; high performance liquid chromatography coupled to linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. The methodology detects and positively identifies the presence of metabolites of JWH-018 and JWH-073 in urine.

A perennial herb that is a part of the mint family commonly found in southern Mexico, Central America and South America. The Salvia plant has large green leaves with white and purple flowers that typically grow in large clusters to more than 3 feet in height.

Users typically chew or smoke the plants leaves or leaf extracts experiencing brief but often intense hallucinogenic effects. While the effects are short-lived it would be dangerous to operate a vehicle or heavy machinery/equipment while under the drug’s influence. Any drug that leaves the user incapacitated has the potential to put the user and those around them at risk for serious injury.

C-DAT provides a screen that quantifies the presence of salvinorin A (the primary active ingredient and salvinorin B (the main metabolite of salvinorin A) in urine samples. The quantitative test is fully validated and measures both compounds down to concentrations of 2ng/mL utilizing a state of the art, high performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry technique. The window for detecting salvia use is not well defined but is likely short; salvia use is likely detected for a period of no more than a few days.

Ivory Wave is a product that is sold over the counter as a bath salts, and plant food have been labeled (inappropriately) as synthetic cocaine. MDPV is best known as the active ingredient in the product which is reported to provide a pharmacological activity similar to the hallucinogenic stimulant MDMA (Ecstasy). Some medical examiner’s reports state that consuming Ivory Wave or similar drugs can be life threatening.

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